About an hour before the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans was being contested 500 miles down the eastern seaboard, First Tracks Cumberland held its own $9,589 Cumberland Preakness on Saturday, May 16 at the iconic Southern Maine oval.

The seven fillies and mares that comprised the conditioned pacing field for the 1-1/4-mile dash were led by 5-2 morning-line favourite Venice Blue Chip from post two.  However, at post time, the public’s perception had shifted to embrace Holymotherofmoses, who had a late driver change to local fan-favourite Heath Campbell, which resulted in her receiving 6-5 billing.

When the wings folded down the backstretch, a cavalry charge ensued with Venice Blue Chip and Walter Case Jr. taking an early lead. Hungry Lady (2-1, Wally Watson) dropped in the pocket second and was followed by Coocooforcoco (Mike Stevenson) and Dedication (Andy Harrington) as the pack rounded the first turn. The field stayed in that position through the :28.3 opening panel and a subsequent :58.2 half.

Entering the third turn and heading to the three-quarters, Harrington pulled Dedication from fourth in an attempt to reel in the leaders. She quickly ranged up to the wheel of the pacesetter with the post-time favourite Holymotherofmoses in tow second-over as they completed the third panel in 1:29.

The field was stacked up, and Holymotherofmoses was sent three-wide down the backside as they tripped the mile timer in 1:58.4. Around the final turn and down the stretch, Dedication backed out of it while Case was trying to keep the pacesetter Venice Blue Chip from being caught by a determined Holymotherofmoses on the outside. The mares battled valiantly down to the wire, with Venice Blue Chip prevailing by a neck in 2:28.2 over Holymotherofmoses. Polyester (Aaron Hall) came from way off the pace to grab the show dough.

Trained by Mark Harris for owners Derek Robishaw and Gayle Harris, the winning five-year-old daughter of Lather Up-Lyford Cay picked up her first seasonal victory in six starts. Venice Blue Chip increased her lifetime earnings to $142,186 with her 15th win in 70 outings. She returned $6.20 to win.

Trainer Michelle Lefebvre sent out three winners on the 12-race program. Her victories came with Moneymakesherhappy ($4.20), who swept the field with Watson aboard, Mystic Moment ($3.20) with McGwire Sowers and Timely Bet ($3.60), driven by Aaron Hall. Lefebvre bolstered an already huge strike rate to 39.8 per cent as she upped her total to 33 wins in 83 seasonal starts. The fifth-year conditioner is already 13 wins away from eclipsing her previous best year.

Hall enjoyed three wins on the program, including the $9,589 co-featured Winners Over Handicap Pace with Vel Trust In Time. Scoring in 1:57.3, the win was the Tammy Sowers-trained mare’s seventh of the season in 15 attempts.

Heath Campbell, Andy Harrington and McGwire Sowers each picked up a pair of wins. Nick Graffam leads all drivers after the 17 race cards of the current spring meet with 38 victories. Kevin Switzer Jr. and Aaron Hall are tied for second with 28 wins.

Racing resumes Friday as Cumberland kicks off the Memorial Day weekend with another full card of live harness racing action.

First Tracks Cumberland continues to host its Friday-Saturday racing schedule through the month of May. When the calendar flips to June for the official start of summer, the schedule reverts back to Saturday-Sunday cards for the remainder of the meet. First post is 12:15 p.m. during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through Aug. 2.

(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)